18-karat gold
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A gold alloy containing 75% pure gold: "18-karat gold" is a specific mixture of metals where 75% of the content is pure gold, with the remaining 25% being other metals like copper, silver, or zinc. The karat measurement indicates the purity of the gold.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Her wedding ring is made of 18-karat gold, so it's both durable and has a rich color.
- Compared to 24-karat gold, 18-karat gold is harder and more suitable for everyday jewelry.
Advanced Usage
- "To be 18-karat": used figuratively to describe something as genuine or of high quality, though this is less common than the literal usage.
- His apology seemed 18-karat, full of sincere remorse.
Variants and Related Words
- Karat (n): A unit for measuring the purity of gold, with 24 karats being pure gold. (Note: This is spelled "carat" when referring to gemstone weight).
- Gold alloy (n): A general term for a mixture of gold with other metals.
- 14-karat gold (n): A gold alloy containing 58.3% pure gold.
- 24-karat gold (n): Pure gold, which is 99.9% gold.
Synonyms
- 750 gold: A synonym based on the millesimal fineness system (750 parts per thousand gold).
- 18K gold: An abbreviated form.
Related Phrases
- Solid gold: Often used to describe jewelry made from a gold alloy like 18-karat, as opposed to gold-plated items. It signifies the entire piece is made of the gold mixture.
- Ensure you are buying solid 18-karat gold, not just a gold-plated piece.
Related Idioms
- Good as gold: An idiom meaning very well-behaved or genuine. While not directly referencing the karat, it shares the concept of gold as a standard of value.
- The children were as good as gold during the ceremony.
Noun
- an alloy that contains 75 per cent gold